Close Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
  • Competition
  • Home New
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Wednesday, July 2
Breaking News
  • E-bike rider charged following fatal collision in Hastings
Facebook X (Twitter)
MPNEWSMPNEWS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Home New
Breaking News
MPNEWSMPNEWS
Home»News»Roo slaughter on our roads
News

Roo slaughter on our roads

By Mike HastSeptember 28, 2015Updated:September 29, 2015No Comments2 Mins Read
Road deaths: More than 70 kangaroos have been killed on peninsula roads this year and wildlife protector Craig Thomson blames roo-proof fences and clearing of habitat. Picture supplied
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
Road deaths: More than 70 kangaroos have been killed on peninsula roads this year and wildlife protector Craig Thomson blames roo-proof fences and clearing of habitat. Picture supplied
Road deaths: More than 70 kangaroos have been killed on peninsula roads this year and wildlife protector Craig Thomson blames roo-proof fences and clearing of habitat. Picture supplied

MORE than 70 kangaroos have been hit and killed by vehicles on Mornington Peninsula roads this year, says animal activist Craig Thomson.

Mr Thomson, secretary of Animalia Wildlife Shelter, said roos were being forced on to road reserves by property owners building “9-foot [3-metre] kangaroo-proof fences, especially in the Tuerong to Cape Schanck area”.

“The fences limit their ability to move across the land,” he said.

“Kangaroos on the peninsula are an isolated population and we could loose them forever if we don’t protect them.”

He said most roos killed were eastern greys, the dominant species in the region.

“This is an extraordinarily large number of animals to be killed in a short period of time. It is a miracle that no motorists or passengers have been killed yet.”

He said it was often thought that large numbers of roos being killed on roads was the sign of an expanding kangaroo population but this was not the case on the peninsula.

“We are clearing too much vegetation including areas for market gardens.”

He said there had been reports of roos entering people’s front yards more frequently. One woman in Cape Schanck was now keeping her gate closed all the time as she was worried about roos accidentally harming her children and pets.

“Habitat loss is pushing kangaroos on to roadside verges,” Mr Thomson said.

“Many verges are on narrow roads with high speed limits so it is only a matter of time before someone is killed, while we continue to loose our biodiversity and a tourist drawcard.”

A shire spokesman said the decline of the kangaroo population was due to a number of factors including “specialised boundary exclusion fencing including electric fences”, pastoral land being replaced by intensive horticulture such as vegetable growing, and increased traffic volumes.

“Threats to kangaroo populations from development are ever-present around the edge of Melbourne and beyond to the peninsula.”

Construction of so-called “kangaroo exclusion fences” does not require a planning permit.

First published in the Mornington News – 29 September 2015

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Railway station scam

July 1, 2025

Flinders result unaffected by poll blunder – AEC

July 1, 2025

Grand Hotel’s tower revamp signals new chapter for icon

June 26, 2025

McCrae telco tower refused over visual impact

June 26, 2025
Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Peninsula Essence Magazine – Click to Read
Peninsula Kids Magazine – Click to Read
Letters to the Editor
Property of the Week

14 Bass Street, McCrae

June 3, 2025
Council Watch

Shire secures $3.9m to tackle road safety

June 16, 2025

Kinder flyer flag snub prompts councillors to take over

June 10, 2025
100 Years Ago This Week

Baxter – On The ‘Wallaby’ with a walking group

July 1, 2025
Interview

Firefighter shows skills from sea to snow

February 5, 2024
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Home New
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook X (Twitter)
© 2025 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.